Chris Reis grew up with his brother in a split home after his mother and father divorced. As a child, Chris witnessed his father lead a destructive lifestyle.

“To say I was a bad father is an understatement,” Mike told church members.

Motivated to cause less stress to his family, Chris strived to excel academically and athletically. While attending the Georgia Institute of Technology, Chris renewed his faith and joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After more than four years of praying for his father to stabilize his life, Chris persuaded his father to attend a fellowship event.

“He came up to me after the sermon,” Chris said, “and he told me, ‘I’d love to know more about this Jesus thing.’ ”

While the pastor preached the Bible, Mike had a life-altering experience.

“I felt the arms of God around me,” he said. “It felt like he wrapped his arms around me, and he said, ‘Mike, it’s time to come home.’ ”

After years of a painfully destructive life, Mike said he realized he was trying to fill an insatiable spiritual hole. But his acceptance of Christ did not cure his addiction overnight.

Chris was signed to the Saints in 2007, while reconciling with his father and helping him overcome his alcoholism. On Feb. 7, 2010, the Saints were competing against the Indianapolis Colts for the National Football League championship, a game in which he didn’t expect to take the field. By halftime, the Saints were trailing by four points. A last-minute lineup switch changed the Reises’ lives forever. Now considered an unsung hero of the Super Bowl, Chris took the field and helped turn the game around with his role in a play widely considered one of the most extraordinary in Super Bowl history. The Saints opened the second half with an onside kick, which he recovered, giving the Saints — instead of the Colts — the ball.

“I believe God brought me to the Super Bowl,” Chris said. “If I never played, we wouldn’t be doing any of this. My dad would still be drinking.”

After the Super Bowl, Mike realized that it was now or never. Chris had proven to an audience of about 111 million how accepting God can help you strive to accomplish unimaginable feats, and Mike felt it was time to lead a Christian life.

Since Chris was cut from the Saints in 2011, he decided to retire from football to focus on his family. Since the beginning of Mike’s recovery, the father and son decided to write a book on their journey last year, “Recovery of a Lifetime: The Inspirational Journey of a Super Bowl Hero Son and His Father’s Battle Against Multiple Addictions.” Mike is now a certified addiction, recovery and life coach.

The newly reconciled duo decided to take to the road to spread their message as full-time inspirational speakers. Especially on Father’s Day, Chris and Mike feel the powerful familiar bond between them, as well as their shared bond with the Christian faith.

After going through such a trying experience in their relationship, they say their father-son bond has become stronger.

“It’s difficult to live without a father,” Chris said. “Regardless of what kids think, they all want a relationship with their father. For some reason, it’s hard for a father to connect sometimes. I think a father has to be intentional in what he does.”

Looking back at his choices, Mike said he sees the error of his ways.

“I was a part-time dad,” he said. “It was all about me. Because my dad wasn’t around, I thought I was doing well because I was around more than he was. Looking back, I realized I wasn’t a good father. I was a terrible father.”

Chris said he has forgiven his father’s past and has helped him start a new life as a Christian.

“I’m more proud of my son for what he does off the field than anything he will ever do on the field,” Mike said.

<p>For former New Orleans Saint Chris Reis and his dad, Mike, Father's Day was just one more day to change lives.</p><p>They have spent the past year traveling the country as motivational speakers, encouraging church congregations, men's groups and others to follow Christian lifestyles.</p><p>They visited the Victory of Houma Church as a guest speaker at Father's Day services Sunday. </p><p>Chris is best known for his game-changing recovery of an onside kick that helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV.</p><p>Despite Chris' NFL success, his father, Mike, was struggling with multiple addictions, including alcoholism.</p><p>Chris Reis grew up with his brother in a split home after his mother and father divorced. As a child, Chris witnessed his father lead a destructive lifestyle.</p><p>“To say I was a bad father is an understatement,” Mike told church members.</p><p>Motivated to cause less stress to his family, Chris strived to excel academically and athletically. While attending the Georgia Institute of Technology, Chris renewed his faith and joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After more than four years of praying for his father to stabilize his life, Chris persuaded his father to attend a fellowship event.</p><p>“He came up to me after the sermon,” Chris said, “and he told me, 'I'd love to know more about this Jesus thing.' ”</p><p>While the pastor preached the Bible, Mike had a life-altering experience.</p><p>“I felt the arms of God around me,” he said. “It felt like he wrapped his arms around me, and he said, 'Mike, it's time to come home.' ”</p><p>After years of a painfully destructive life, Mike said he realized he was trying to fill an insatiable spiritual hole. But his acceptance of Christ did not cure his addiction overnight.</p><p>Chris was signed to the Saints in 2007, while reconciling with his father and helping him overcome his alcoholism. On Feb. 7, 2010, the Saints were competing against the Indianapolis Colts for the National Football League championship, a game in which he didn't expect to take the field. By halftime, the Saints were trailing by four points. A last-minute lineup switch changed the Reises' lives forever. Now considered an unsung hero of the Super Bowl, Chris took the field and helped turn the game around with his role in a play widely considered one of the most extraordinary in Super Bowl history. The Saints opened the second half with an onside kick, which he recovered, giving the Saints — instead of the Colts — the ball.</p><p>“I believe God brought me to the Super Bowl,” Chris said. “If I never played, we wouldn't be doing any of this. My dad would still be drinking.” </p><p>After the Super Bowl, Mike realized that it was now or never. Chris had proven to an audience of about 111 million how accepting God can help you strive to accomplish unimaginable feats, and Mike felt it was time to lead a Christian life.</p><p>Since Chris was cut from the Saints in 2011, he decided to retire from football to focus on his family. Since the beginning of Mike's recovery, the father and son decided to write a book on their journey last year, “Recovery of a Lifetime: The Inspirational Journey of a Super Bowl Hero Son and His Father's Battle Against Multiple Addictions.” Mike is now a certified addiction, recovery and life coach.</p><p>The newly reconciled duo decided to take to the road to spread their message as full-time inspirational speakers. Especially on Father's Day, Chris and Mike feel the powerful familiar bond between them, as well as their shared bond with the Christian faith. </p><p>After going through such a trying experience in their relationship, they say their father-son bond has become stronger.</p><p>“It's difficult to live without a father,” Chris said. “Regardless of what kids think, they all want a relationship with their father. For some reason, it's hard for a father to connect sometimes. I think a father has to be intentional in what he does.”</p><p>Looking back at his choices, Mike said he sees the error of his ways.</p><p>“I was a part-time dad,” he said. “It was all about me. Because my dad wasn't around, I thought I was doing well because I was around more than he was. Looking back, I realized I wasn't a good father. I was a terrible father.”</p><p>Chris said he has forgiven his father's past and has helped him start a new life as a Christian.</p><p>“I'm more proud of my son for what he does off the field than anything he will ever do on the field,” Mike said.</p>